Source: Alan Cleaver [Flickr]
Losing weight is no easy deed. It rarely happens smoothly and effortlessly, which means it can be really tiring and exhausting at times. Some people occupy their thoughts by trying to meet people online while others can’t help it but constantly obsess about their excess weight. In that name, here are the 6 best ways to stay motivated on your journey to weight loss.
1. Set Realistic Goals
Before you even come across an obstacle, make sure that the target you have in your crosshairs is a realistic and reachable one. If you don’t do this, you’re basically setting yourself up for failure.
Trying too hard and aiming for something that you can’t possibly achieve is exactly what kills the motivation for most people who try to lose weight. Instead, focus on something you know you can actually accomplish and you’ll see that your journey will be much, much easier.
2. Imagine the End Result
One of the best tactics to follow when you’re feeling down and unmotivated to keep on dieting and exercising is to just imagine yourself once everything’s done and all the extra weight has disappeared.
The reason why this works lies in the fact that the end result is exactly why we begin this journey in the first place.
3. Baby Steps
Since losing weight can be a rather lengthy endeavor, it’s always smart to set mini-goals on your way to the end result in order to stay motivated. The best way to do this is to task yourself with losing small amounts of weight in short periods of time. This way you’ll have those tiny accomplishments to keep you going.
4. Don’t Torture Yourself
Imagining yourself after losing all those excess pounds is one thing, but focusing on how other people are skinny and fit is something completely different.
The former, as we’ve said before, can help keep you motivated, while the latter will only make you envious, sad, angry and prone to quitting.
5. Feel Good
Being fit isn’t only about having a great body and being healthy – it’s also about feeling good about yourself and being comfortable with who you are and the way you look.
The common mistake people make while trying to drop weight is scolding themselves for being fat, overweight, obese and for binge-eating. While none of these are something you should be proud of, it’s very important that you don’t bring yourself down because of your extra weight or if you’re seeing significant results after a while. Remember – good things come to those who wait!
6. Reward Yourself
Much like those mini-goals we spoke about before, it’s also good to reward yourself every once in a while for achieving even the slightest improvement. This way you’ll feel much more eager to keep working on your waistline.
However, don’t overdo it. Just because you’ve lost 5 pounds in 3 days doesn’t mean you should buy yourself an entire pizza and eat it in one go.
About the author:
Stefan is a writer and a blogger in his spare time. He also works for First Beat Media, a company that mainly focuses on the online dating niche and similar services.